VARIABLES

“Changing qualities or
characteristics” of persons or things
Variables

• Can be the age, gender, intelligence, ideas,

achievements, confidence, and so on…
• From the root word “vary” which means to undergo
changes or to differ from.
Variables

• It has different or varying values in relation to time and

situation.
For instance, as years go by, your age or intelligence
increases. But placed in a situation where you are afflicted with
a disease or have no means of reading or no access to any
sources of knowledge, your intelligence tend to decrease. (Suter
2013, p. 137)
 Two types of Variables (Basic Types)

• Independent Variables
- are those that cause changes in the subject.
• Dependent Variables
- are those that bear or manifest the effects caused by
the independent variables.
Research Sample

For instance, to determine the positive effects of

one modern grammar theory called SFG (Systemic
Functional Grammar) on IC (Intercultural
Competence), you apply this theory in varied ways
like realizing this in a collaborative, oral, or written
activity.
 Other Types of Variables
• Extraneous Variables
- Are any variables that you are not intentionally studying in your
research or experiment but might influence the outcome of the
study.
• Confounding Variables
- Simply, the uncontrollable extraneous variables that can
strongly influence your study.
Other Types of Variables (Russell 2013; Babbie
2013)
1. Constant – do not undergo any changes during an experiment.
2. Attribute – characteristics of people: intelligence, creativity,
anxiety, learning styles, etc.
3. Covariate – included in the research study to create interactions
with the independent and dependent variables
4. Continuous – quantitative in nature and is used in interval or ratio
scale of measurement.
Other Types of Variables (Russell 2013; Babbie
2013)

5. Dichotomous – has only two possible results: one or zero

6. Latent – cannot be directly observed like personality traits
7. Manifest – can be directly observed to give proofs to latent
variables
8. Exogenous – found outside an identified model
9. Endogenous – found inside; as a part of identified model